Associate Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds
Associate Professor of Sociology Eric Bonds has authored an op-ed for Cardinal News titled “Virginia has one of the highest utility disconnection rates in the nation. The data center boom will make things worse.” Bonds highlights research from the Energy Justice Lab at Indiana University showing Dominion Energy disconnected 339,000 households from electrical service in Virginia for nonpayment in 2024, while Appalachian Power disconnected another 43,000 customers. Among the 23 states reporting data, Virginia had the highest disconnection rate. Bonds argues that the rise of energy-intensive data centers will worsen energy insecurity, leaving many families struggling. Read the op-ed in Cardinal News.